Squeeze roll



Aug. 14, 1956 H. H. BELCHER SQUEEZE ROLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11 1951 INVENTOR HAROLD H. BELCHER AT ORNEYS "in" IIIII Ill United States Patent SQUEEZE ROLL Harold H. Belcher, Orange, Mass.

Application January 11, 1951, Serial No. 205,586

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-258) The present invention relates to squeeze roll constructions and more particularly to squeeze roll constructions used in the treatment of cloth.

In the treatment of cloth, squeeze rolls and wringers must meet a number of exacting operating conditions. Frequently very heavy pressures are used to avoid waste of treating liquids such as dye liquor or bleaching reagent and to avoid carrying excess liquid in the fabric which might contaminate the next reagent. be substantially constant during operation because otherwise the cloth being treated may be non-uniform. The squeeze or wringer rolls should also be able to float or equalize to a certain extent to compensate for seams, folds or Wrinkles in the cloth. A good squeeze roll assembly or wringer should meet all of these conditions and maintain them over a long life.

In addition to these operating requirements, small size and compactness are important qualities in a squeeze roll or wringer. These factors not only reduce the weight and bulk of equipment but leave room for other attachments which perform useful operations.

In prior apparatus of this kind, it has been the universal practice to employ a conventional piston-cylinder arrangement and to transmit the motion of the piston to the rolls through a packed piston rod and a system of levers which project out'wardly beyond the frame supporting the rolls. A certain amount of leakage of the actuating fluid around the cylinder and the piston rod packing is practically unavoidable in this type of unit. This is particularly undesirable in cases where the actuating fluid is oil, hydraulic fluid or compressed air with entrained oil which may be transferred to the cloth passing through the machine.

Further, the bulky arrangement of levers in prior apparatus rendered the installation of auxiliary equipment diflicult or impossible without substantially increasing the overall dimensions of the machine.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a small and compact squeeze roll construction which is etficient and effective in operation.

Another object is to provide an improved squeezing and wringing apparatus in which the operating pressures are established and maintained substantially uniformly and continuously over the entire contact area of the rolls.

It is another object to provide an improved pneumatic squeeze roll assembly.

It is another object to provide an improved squeezing mechanism which comprises a minimum number of structurally rugged parts simply and compactly arranged to effect simplicity of manufacture, installation, operation and repair.

It is also an object to provide a novel pneumatic actuator for a squeeze roll in which the components subject to most rapid wear may be conveniently removed and replaced as a unit.

It is a further object to provide a novel pneumatic actuator for a squeeze roll which incorporates a number of series-arranged relatively small pneumatic units.

.It is a further object to provide a novelframe for'sup- The pressure should 2,758,466 Patented Aug. 14 1956 porting the fixed and movable rolls and an actuator for the movable roll, the frame also having a relatively large unobstructed mounting surface to which auxiliary equipment, such as bow rolls, tension bars and spray pipes may be readily attached.

It is also an object to provide a novel means for normally adjusting the position of the movable roll.

It is anadditional object to provide a novel sealed pressure fluid actuator for a squeeze roll in which the possibility of leakage of the actuating fluid is minimized.

Another object is to provide a squeeze roll construction in which the rolls move out of contact when the squeezing pressure is released.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the squeeze roll bearing structure taken along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the squeeze roll bearing and adjusting means taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views of the pneumatic pressure cell actuating means illustrating the cell in two operating positions.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, my improved squeeze roll assembly comprises two substantially identical stands indicated generally at It). Each stand 10 has spaced vertical sections 12 and 14 joined at their lower ends by an integral transverse section 16. It is to be noted that the vertical sections 12 and 14 are so designed as to afford a large, flat, unobstructed mounting surface to which auxiliary equipment such as spray pipes, tension bars, guides, dance rolls and bow rolls may be attached. If

' desired, mounting holes 17 may be provided for this purpose.

Each of the transverse sections 16 is provided with spaced mounting holes 18 and with a centrally located circular mounting plate 20 having a raised central boss or guide portion 22. The upper ends of each of the vertical sections 12 and 14 are provided with machined mounting surfaces 24 to which a pair of identical bearing mounts 26 are rigidly attached as by bolts 28 which extend into threaded bores centrally located in the surfaces 24.

As best shown in Figure 3, each of the vertical sections, or members 12 and 14 are provided with an inwardly extending flange 30 having from and side machined guide surfaces 32 and 34, respectively. A pair of identical rectangular lower bearing mounts 36 are provided with machined surfaces 33 and 35 which slidingly engage the surfaces 32 and 34, respectively, of the members 12 and 14 so that the mounts 36 may be moved vertically without lateral displacement. Each of the mounts 36 is centrally apertured to receive self aligning bearings indicated gen- "erally at 38, which may be of conventional design and rotatably support opposite ends of a shaft 40 on which a conventional squeeze roller 42 is rigidly mounted. As is well known in the art, bearings of this type permit limited pivotal movement of the shaft and allow slight axial displacement of the shaft with respect to the bearing mounts to compensate for the effects of expansion and contraction. Each of the bearings carries a splash guard 39 at its inner end to protect the bearing against the liquor or reagents carriedv by the cloth.

An upper roller 44 is mounted on a shaft 46 which is supported in similar bearings in the fixed upper bearing mounts 26 and may be driven by any suitable power source, not shown. The bearings 38 are lubricated through grease fittings 47 in each of the upper and lower mounts.

Each of the reciprocable bearing mounts 36 is provided at its'lower surface with a downwardly extending boss 48 which has a central threaded aperture for receiving a threaded adjusting, screw 50; Clips 52,which. are cen-..

trally apertured to receive a raised circularshoulderiri projecting from the hexagonal heads 55 of screws,50, each have. a vertical sectionwhichv frictionally; engages one side of the bosses 43 to prevent rotationofcthe clip. as. the. screw 50 is. rotated during adjustment. as more fully explained hereafter.

Theassemblies consisting of themounts 36, screws 50;.andclips 52. are looselymounted on the upper surface of a pair of identical pressure :units. indicated. generally; at 56.. Each unit, 56,is;positioned: looselyon .itszmounting plate 20. and is provided with a1recess57 in its: lower surface in register with the raised boss. or'guide portion- 22. of the mountingplate.

Referring now to Figures 5.iand.6-whichillustrate the preferred construction of the pressure units 56,..58 indicates a. tubular housing having a. machined flange 60 adjacent its lower edge and an annular recess 62 .adjacent. its upper edge. The housing SS'is closed-at its lower surface by a circular plate positioned on the flange 60 and forms with flange 60 the-recess 57' in which the boss 22 is received.

An annular ring 66, positionedwithin housing 58-, above plate 64 is provided with spacedannular recesses 68 and 70 in which flexible diaphragms 72 and 74-,- respectively, are clamped, forming with rings 66 an air tight expansible chamber 76. The diaphragms 72 and 74-are preferably fabricated from neoprene, rubber, or other durable, air tight, flexible material. It is to be noted that the inner edges of recess 70 and the lower inner edge of recess68 as well as'all other metallic surfaces at the point of flexure of the diaphragms' are curved'so as to prevent deterioration of the relatively soft diaphragm at the point of contact with the metal.

An annular ring 78 is positioned within housing 58' with a curved lip 80 extending over the inner edge of' ring 66 to the level of the upper edge of recess 68so as to form acontinuation thereof. A bleed passage 79in register with 'an enlarged passage 81 in housing 58 is provided in ring 78 for a purpose to be explained. A plate 82 having a central aperture84 is positioned at approximately the midpoint of housing 58 abovering 78 to form the lower surface of'an upper cylindrical chamber identical to the lower. chamber previously described and containing a ring 90 and a .ring 92', the latter forming, an upper sealed chamber 93with diaphragms 94 and 96 which are identical to the corresponding elements 78, 66, 74 and 72, respectively. The upper cylinder assembly is completed by a plate 98 identical to plate 82 and held in place against ring 90.by a snap ring 100 received iuslot 62. The upper end of housing 58 is closed by a flexible diaphragm 101. of rubber, neoprene, or similar material which is suitably clamped or bonded to a. portion of the outer surface of housing 58.. If desired,; ring 90 may be provided with a fluidpassage'91 in register with an enlarged port 95 in.housing,58.:

It is to be noted that, if after a period of "continued use, replacement of the diaphragms. becomes necessary, either of the sealed chambers-mayibeeasily removed and replacedas a unit by unskilled mechanics. 'I'hisconstruce tion eliminates the intricate, time. consuming, operation of assembling and sealing the chambers within the.hous-. ingusually associated with devices of this kind.

A pair of free pistons 102 and 104 whichrest loosely.

on diaphragms 72 and 96, respectively, and. arefreely reciprocable in the lower and upper cylinders,. are provided with reduced sections of slightly smaller-crosssection than: the apertures inplates 82 and98 to permit free. passage of the reduced portions; through. the apertures.

they are allowed to move to their lower positions as shown in Figure 6, the pistons and'diaphragms form a substantially solid mass so that the static weight of the movable roller is transmitted through the central section of the pistons to the bottom plate 64 which is supported over its entire surface by the boss 22 on plate 20 as previously described.

Fluid conduits and 112"extend freely through enlarged apertures l11andz113, respectively, in housing 58 and are sealingly threaded into fittings in rings 92 and 66 communicating with chambers 93 and 76, respectively. Conduits 1 110 and. 112 are selectively connected..to a suitable source of pressure, not shown, or to exhaust, through conduitsll4 and a conventional piping and valve arrangement. Conventional pipe unions 115 may be provided for convenient assembly. To simplify the control of the units and to assure the maintenance of equal: pressure in. the; two units 56,. the two conduits 114 arepreferably connected to a common: valved pressure exhaust line.

It istobe noted. thateach. pressure unit is permanently sealedagainst fluid leakage. Further, the absence of conventional pistons and piston rods eliminates the neces' sity for the usexof packing. and practically eliminates the possibility-of leakage of fluid usually associated with apparatus of the prior art. This result is of particular advantage in clothtreating apparatus where the presence of hydraulicfluid or oil may spoil a run of cloth.

If air or other suitable pressure fluid is supplied to the units '56 as they occupythe position of Figure 6, the an-* nular spaces between diaphragms 94 and 96 and 72 and 74-will immediately tend to expand. Since these spaces are initially substantially equal in size and as the upper piston is restrained against upward movement by the weight of the movable roller," the pistons will move upwardly' as a unit compressing the 'diaphragms 94 and 96 together between them. As soon as the pistons are moved away from their initial position, the'eflective area beneath' the lower piston '102 will be substantially increased sothat' the piston 102 will be urged upwardly against the piston 104'with increased force assuring the maintenance of'mechanical contact between the pistons throughout the range of their movement. Air in the space above thepistons 102 and 104 escapes through the bleed passages 79' and 91 respectively.

The wringer is preferably adjusted so that the lower roller is brought into engagement with the upperroller before the pistons 102 and 104 abut plates 82 and. 98 so as to maintain the rollers in resilientengagement under the full preselected pressure at all times. This adjustment may be made at any time, preferably when the lower roller is in its retracted position, by rotation of screws 50. As previously explained, the clips 52, which bear on. the diaphragm 101, are held against rotation. during adjustment of the screws 50- to prevent. damageto the diaphragm 101..

It isto be noted that, since the pressure units are in parallel with respect to the pressure source, the opposite ends. of the lower roller will be raised or lowered in.

synchronism. However, minor discrepancies in the rate of travel in the opposite supports do not produce appreciable binding. of the support or roller shaft because of the previously described self-aligning bearings 38 which permit displacement of the axis of the shaft40 with.respect. to the supports 36.

The squeeze rolls 42 and 44 are preferably covered with alayer. of rubber or similar yieldable material and it is highly important. that these rolls do not remain in contactunder. pressure when they are not rotating. Continued 1 pressure on stationary rubber covered rolls causes the rubbersurfaces to. develop fiat portions and these flatportions result in non-uniform wringing action and also sets up vibrations and noise in'lthe apparatus.

The pistons 102 and 104 are so proportioned that whenr.75 In rmy improved apparatus the pressure units 56 i are beneath the lower roll 42 and act to raise roll 42 up into contact with the upper roll 44. When the pressure in the units 56 is removed, gravity causes the lower roll 42 to move away from the upepr roll 44 so that the two rolls do not remain in contact except when the cylinders are under pressure. For this reason, the likelihood of pressure flats developing on either roll is substantially eliminated.

In my improved pressure unit the pressure cells 76 and 93 are placed one on top of the other but the pressures in the two cells have a cumulative effect. The force acting on the bottom of piston 102 is equal to the pressure in cell 76 multiplied by the area of the diaphragm 72. To the force acting upon the bearing mount 36 through screw 50 and boss 48 is added the pressure in chamber 93 multiplied by the area of diaphragm 96 minus the area of contact between diaphragms 94 and 96.

The operating force may be multiplied, when desired, by increasing the number of cells in a pressure unit. As an indication of the flexibility of the present invention it is to be noted that to effect this modification only the housing 58 need be changed. With an extended housing, additional sets of identical rings, pistons, diaphragms, and plates can be assembled as required to incorporate any number of operating pistons in tandem. Because of the elimination of levers and other components of the actuating mechanism which in the prior art invariably extend beyond the frame members, the front and back of the upright frame members 12 and 14 are kept clear. Auxiliary equipment such as spray pipes, tension bars, bow rolls, guides and dance rolls may thus be attached directly to the frame members and may extend between the opposite stands 10, on either side, as close to the rolls as desired without interference with any of the operating components of the squeeze roll mechanism.

This compact size greatly extends the use and application of squeeze rolls and permitslthe combination of various treating steps in cloth treating and finishing without unduly enlarging the treating apparatus.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a wringer having a pair of rollers, means for moving one of said rollers into and out of operating engagement with the other of said rollers comprising, a housing, spaced wall members immovably mounted in said housing, a pair of flexible members sealingly secured to each of said wall members and extending across said housing, said wall members and said flexible members thereby defining a plurality of chambers, a relatively fixed support for the lower surface of each of said chambers, pistons mounted on the upper surface of each of said chambers, means extending through said housing and said wall members to vary the pressure in each of said chambers to vary the size of said chambers and move said pistons, and means for transmitting the motion of said pistons to said one of said rollers.

2. In a wringer having a pair of relatively movable rollers, pneumatic means for moving one of said rollers into and out of operating engagement with the other of said rollers, comprising a housing, an upper ring and a lower ring immovably mounted in said housing, upper and lower diaphragms sealingly clamped at their respective peripheries to each of said rings, said diaphragms thereby defining, with their respective rings an upper and a lower chamber, a rigid annular support for each of said lower diaphragms extending inwardly of said rings, axially aligned upper and lower pistons positioned on the upper surface of each of said upper diaphragms for movement therewith, means-for connecting each of said chambers through said housing and said ring with a source of fluid under pressure to move the upper diaphragms and pistons together, means operatively connecting said lower piston to said upper piston, and means for transmitting the motion of said pistons to said one of said rollers.

3. In a wringer having a pair of rollers, means for moving one of said rollers into and out of operating engagement with the other of said rollers comprising a fluid pressure unit comprising a housing having a bottom wall, a first ring of rigid material within said housing on said bottom wall, flexible diaphragms extending across the top and bottom of said first ring and secured to said first ring in fluid tight relation thereto, the bottom .diaphragm resting upon the bottom wall of said housing, a plate having an aperture therethrough secured in said housing above said first ring, a second ring-in said housing on said plate, flexible diaphragms extending across the top and bottom of said second ring and secured to said second ring in fluid tight relation thereto, the bottom diaphragm of said second ring resting on said plate, a piston carried on the top diaphragm of the first ring, said piston having its lower surface formed to extend over substantially the entire upper surface of said top diaphragm of said first ring and its upper surface formed to extend through the aperture in said plate, a second piston carried on the top diaphragm of the second ring, said second piston having its lower surface formed to extend over substantially the entire surface of said top diaphragm of said second ring, means for introducing fluid under pressure into both of said rings between said respective top and bottom diaphragms to move said pistons, and means for transmitting the movement of said pistons to said one of said rollers.

4. In a wringer having a pair of rollers, means for moving one of said rollers into and out of operating ongagement with the other of said rollers comprising a fluid pressure unit comprising a cylindrical housing, a first ring of rigid material removably mounted within said housing, flexible diaphragms extending across the top and bottom of said first ring and secured to said first ring in fluid tight relation thereto, means for supporting the bottom diaphragm of said first ring, an annular plate removably mounted in said housing above said first ring, a second ring removably mounted in said housing on said plate, flexible diaphragms extending across the top and bottom of said second ring and secured to said second ring in fluid tight relation thereto, the bottom diaphragm of said second ring resting on said plate, a piston carried on the top diaphragm of the first ring, said piston having its lower surface formed to extend over substantially the entire upper surface of said top diaphragm of said first ring and having a projection on its upper surface formed to extend through the aperture in said plate and engage the bottom diaphragm of the second ring, a second piston carried on the top diaphragm of the second ring, said second piston having its lower surface formed to extend over substantially the entire upper surface of said top diaphragm of said second ring, means for introducing fluid under pressure into both of said rings between the respective top and bottom diaphragms thereon to thereby move said pistons, and means for transmitting the movement of said pistons to said one of said rollers.

5. In a wringer comprising a pair of stands, an upper roller rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end of said stands, substantially vertical guide surfaces in said stands below said upper roller and extending toward and away from said upper roller, a pair of movable supports slidably mounted in said guide surfaces, a lower roller having its opposite ends rotatably mounted in said movable supports, fixed supports at the lower end of said stands, means mounted on said fixed supports for moving said lower roller toward and away from said upper roller comprising a housing, spaced rigid annular member-s im movablyrmounted in said housing, a 'pair ofi flexible membersesealingly secured around their peripheries to' said annular members, said annular members and: said flexible members thereby defining a plurality of expansible chambers, a fixed support for the lower surface of each of said chambers, pistons mounted on the-upper surface of each of said chambers, means extending-through said housing: and said, annular rnernbers'to-vary' the pressure in each of saidchambers tovary the size of said chambers for: movingxsaid: movablesupportswith respect to said chambers."

6. lnzai wringer having a pair-of rollers, means for movingoneof said rollers iintozandnout of operating engagement with theother of said rollers comprising, an annular rigid housing, a first rigid ring mounted in said housing, upper: and. lower flexible diaphragms sealingly secured around their peripheries to .saidfirst ring, means for supporting the lower diaphragm of said first ring, an annular platemounted'in said housingrabove said first ring, a second rigid ring mounted in said housing above. said plate, upper and. lower flexible diaphragms sealingly secured around their peripheries to said second ring, at least a portion of the lower diaphragm of said second ring resting on said plate, a piston carried on the top diaphragm of' said "first ring, saidpistonhaving its lowersurfaee formed to' extend over, substantially the entire :upper surface of such top'diaphragmand having its-uppersurface formed to extend through anaperturein said plate, a-second piston- References-Cited in the file of 'thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 58l,078 Meune' Apr. 20, 1897' 1,367,015 Browne Feb; 1, 1921 2,030,256' Hume" -c Feb. 11,, 1936 2,138,397 Cannity Nov. 29, 1938' 2,185,743 Albaugh Jan. 2, 1940 2,241,056 Chilton May 6, 1941 2,376,475 Bush May 22, 1945 2,434,367 Moifatt etal. Jan. 13, 1948 2,479,759 Merchant Aug. 23', 1949 2,546,403 Pendleton Mar. 27', 1951 2,546,596 Haines Mar. 27', 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,344 Germany Mar. 12, 1929 

